Short-course norfloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment of shigellosis and salmonellosis in Egypt

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1994 Aug;51(2):219-23. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.1994.51.219.

Abstract

In a double-blind clinical study, 109 adult Egyptian patients infected with Shigella spp. and 45 infected with Salmonella spp. were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: 1) norfloxacin in a single 800-mg dose, 2) norfloxacin, 400 mg twice a day for three days, and 3) trimethoprim (160 mg)-sulfamethoxazole (800 mg) (TMP-SMX), twice a day for three days. Among Shigella-infected patients, diarrheal symptoms had resolved in 86-97% and bacteriologic failure (repeat positive stool culture) occurred in only two patients five days after the start of the three treatment regimens. Among Salmonella-infected patients, diarrheal symptoms had resolved in 76-82% of patients and bacteriologic failure was common (18-36%) five days after the start of therapy. These data indicate that short-course therapy with either norfloxacin or TMP-SMX can be effectively used to treat shigellosis in adults in developing countries. However, for uncomplicated Salmonella spp. infection, short-course therapy with norfloxacin and TMP-SMX may not lead to a rapid resolution of symptoms or consistently eliminate this enteropathogen.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Developing Countries
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Dysentery, Bacillary / drug therapy*
  • Egypt
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norfloxacin / administration & dosage
  • Norfloxacin / therapeutic use*
  • Salmonella Infections / drug therapy*
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / administration & dosage
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Norfloxacin